The paths of Compostela can make more than one walker dream, especially on the Côte d'Azur where one of the roads passes. But after revelations in the press of cases of harassment and sexual assault, the Côte d'Azur pilgrims express their astonishment at what has “never really been a subject”.
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A sporting challenge, a spiritual quest, heritage discoveries… There are multiple motivations for the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who set out on the roads of Santiago de Compostela each year.
In 2023, there were more than 440 000. But in some cases, it seems that the experience can turn into a nightmare.
An article from Guardian published on November 11 and translated by Liberationlists cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault of women experienced on the roads to Compostela. Attacks which took place in Spain, Portugal, but also in France and in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. All associated with a climate of insecurity on isolated paths.
It is difficult to estimate the extent of the phenomenon due to lack of precise data. But associations are mobilizing to make the experience of pilgrims on the roads as safe as possible. Like the GR 653 A, also called Voie Aurelia, an old Roman road which connects Menton to Arles where the main road begins, passing along the coast via Mandelieu, Fréjus, or even Brignoles.
A section over which the volunteers of the Friends of the Roads of Compostela and Corsica watch over. These enthusiasts provide advice and recommendations to make the adventure peaceful.
At the Nice monthly meeting of the Aput on the paths of Compostela and Rome, Alpes-Maritimes sectionthe revelations about these behaviors surprised more than one. “I was stunned when I read the article this morning.“, says Xavier O'Jeanson, the president of the association.
“The subject of attacks, I do not broach it, I am very rarely asked the question, in the 10 years that I have been in the association, it happened once, it was the mother of a young woman who was worried about his daughter“, he continues.
Eric, one of the pilgrims present at the meeting, is also very surprised that the phenomenon exists. But for him, who has already traveled several parts of the way, “it's like everywhere, you have to be vigilant without being paranoid“, believing that there is finally “more help than anything else“.
Same story for Michèle, who has already set off on portions of the Compostela route three times and who assures that she has never encountered the slightest problem: “We go alone, but in reality, we are never alone, we meet people on the way, we meet people in the lodges“This year, she still had a little apprehension for the first time.”because of what we can hear“.
At one point, I got a little lost, I found myself alone along a railway line and then I thought about this apprehension, but that's all.
Michele,pilgrim to Santiago de Compostela
Systems are still put in place by pilgrim associations to limit the risks, such as “the reception channel“, a network of partner volunteer accommodation. These are only accessible to Jacquets with a pilgrim's booklet (a credential).
The credencial (creanciale) is a document carried by the pilgrim to justify his condition on the way to Santiago de Compostela.
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© THEVENOT LAURENT / MAXPPP – Progress
The establishments stamp the document to certify the identity of the walker, carry out follow-up and avoid people who are not attentive.
To access this list of volunteer accommodation, the jacquets first contact the brotherhood responsible for the territory, which opens it to them.the reception channel“. The association also provides a list of paid accommodation along the paths or religious ones, depending on the preferences of the walkers.
The president of the Paca des A sectionon the paths of Compostela and Rome, Marc Ugolini, says he understands that single women can worry, "but people are never actually completely isolated. Some women sometimes prefer to be accompanied for this reason, but it is very marginal, it has never really been a subject", he explains.
A WhatsApp group exists within the association for "help each other", because it is sometimes complicated to find a companion for women who wish one: "you need someone who wants to do it at the same time, in the same circumstances and you have to get along well", explains Marc Ugolini.
Several other supportive communities exist on social networks for women traveling alone.
They can find a fellow traveler to travel together like Camigas, or advice, like Compostela: when you are a woman. Finally, an application dedicated to pilgrims has been developed. Named Camino Santiago, it lists maps, emergency center, nearby accommodation, as well as the weather.
